Soil and Land Management

Soil fertility management in the Papua New Guinea highlands for sweet potato based cropping systems

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Project code
SMCN/2004/067
Budget
AUD 1,166,273
Project leader
Neal Menzies - University of Queensland
Commissioned organisation
The University of Queensland
Duration:
APR 2007
DEC 2013
Project status
Concluded
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Overview

This project aimed to improve soil and irrigation water management to sustainably improve vegetable yields and household economies.

Lao PDR and Cambodia are developing countries with low agricultural productivity. Better management of soil and water resources could help smallholder farms to sustainably produce more vegetables. Socio-economic, livelihood experiences and expectations and organisational constraints affect how and whether smallholders adopt technology, while input supplies, finance, labour, information, and professional human capital are often inadequate.

 

Project outcomes

This project assessed the operation and effectiveness of input supply chains; tested and demonstrated improved soil management techniques and irrigation scheduling; and helped smallholders to adopt improved techniques through understanding smallholder livelihoods and why farmers decide to change their practices. Improved resource and crop management may help farmers produce more vegetables; Lao PDR and Cambodia will no longer have to import these vegetables, which will help their economies to grow.

Key partners
Department of Employment
Economic Development and Innovation
Lutheran Development Service
National Agricultural Research Institute
Queensland Dept of Agriculture & Fisheries
Documents